Election leaves questions on energy issues - Obama's green cred on the line - Too close to call: Waxman, North Dakota and Montana Senate races - Gore decries polluter money in both parties

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AT LEAST ONE QUESTION ANSWERED: President Barack Obama was reelected. Democrats kept the Senate. Republicans still control the House. (There are still some uncalled races; more on those later). But many of the big energy questions will be answered only in the days (and weeks and months) ahead.

Looking back: How influential were energy issues in swing states like Nevada and Virginia? Did Mitt Romney’s big push for coal votes really do him any good, as he failed to pick up Ohio, Virginia or Pennsylvania from Obama? Iowa and Colorado both went for Obama — how much of a role did wind power play in that? Did Sandy push climate change to the front of any voters’ minds?

Looking forward: What exactly are Obama’s priorities for a second term? Will the next Congress take up its first comprehensive energy bill in years? Without the pressure of an incoming Romney administration, how quickly will EPA move to finalize regulations on emissions from new power plants, soot standards and boiler and cement MACTs? When and how will Obama approve the Keystone XL pipeline? If Obama pushes on climate change, will he work to promote smaller initiatives or go for another widely encompassing piece of legislation?

OBAMA’S GREEN CRED ON THE LINE: Just hours after President Barack Obama clinched reelection, the energy world is wondering which Obama it will get in a second term: the liberal that greens love or the moderate that the oil industry tolerates? In his first four years, Obama played both sides.

He pushed for unprecedented new air pollution regulations for power plants, delighting environmental groups and infuriating conservatives. But he also stressed the importance of domestic oil and natural gas development, with White House officials even reaching out directly to industry leaders for their input, a strategy that irked liberals. Andrew Restuccia has the story for Pros: http://politico.pro/VSojLr

CLIMATE GETS A SHOUT-OUT: Obama, in his victory speech in Chicago after winning reelection, said he wants to build a country “that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet,” a reference to climate change likely to please environmental groups.

SPOTTED: Jonathan Black, Democratic aide to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, at the Democratic victory party in Columbus, Ohio. He was with several other staffers on a road trip from D.C. They'd been volunteering, knocking on doors in the coal country of eastern Ohio.

PLENTY OF CONGRATULATIONS came in from energy and environmental groups.

— Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune: “We did it. Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars the fossil fuel industry dumped into this election to elect Mitt Romney, we proved that corporations are, in fact, not people.”

— “Americans have made their decision. We look forward to continuing our work with the president and helping him fulfill his campaign promise to increase domestic oil and natural gas production that will create American jobs and strengthen our economy,” American Petroleum Institute chief Jack Gerard said, adding: “Right off the bat, the president can approve the Keystone pipeline and put thousands of Americans to work immediately.”

— BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster: “The reelection of President Obama and Vice President Biden is an affirmation of the role of government in charting America’s clean economy future. The voters have said, ‘Yes,’ to the president’s clean energy strategy.”

— Energy Action Coalition Executive Director Maura Cowley: “With the East Coast still reeling from Superstorm Sandy, it’s clear that taking bold and urgent action on the climate crisis must be at the top of Obama’s list.”

TOO CLOSE TO CALL: A number of races of interest were too close to call as of ME’s deadline.

Waxman (CA-33): Top E&C Democrat Henry Waxman was in an unexpectedly tight race against independent challenger Bill Bloomfield. Waxman, who has never gotten less than 61 percent of the vote in his decades in office, faced several new challenges, including a redrawn district and Bloomfield’s willingness to write his campaign check after check — more than $7 million, almost all of the challenger’s campaign cash. We’re tracking very closely.

Other House races: A number of close California races had yet to be called. Among them were incumbent Republicans Brian Bilbray and Mary Bono Mack and Democrat John Garamendi.

North Dakota Senate: Democrat Heidi Heitkamp last night was on the verge of winning North Dakota’s Senate seat over GOP candidate Rick Berg, with returns showing the former state attorney general ahead with 50.5 to Berg’s 49.5 percent. Heitkamp, who picked up Sen. Joe Manchin’s endorsement as a fellow friend of fossil fuels and another from former President Bill Clinton as a bipartisan choice, worked to distance herself from Obama on issues such as the Keystone XL pipeline. In an early morning email, Berg vowed not to make any decisions until the state finishes a canvassing process, scheduled to start Friday, that “will certify the election and provide an official result.” Kate Nocera has more: http://politi.co/UwdRIm

Montana Senate: Sen. Jon Tester maintained a small but solid lead against Republican challenger Denny Rehberg in Big Sky Country. Tester’s lead was helped by a greater-than-expected showing from Libertarian candidate Dan Cox.

Florida: The only un-called state as of yet, the Sunshine State, skewed slightly toward Obama all Tuesday night and into the morning. But widespread problems with voting — including citizens reportedly casting their ballots well past midnight — kept most people from calling the state for the president. Our own Bob King — a former Florida denizen — has been on the ground there just in case any hanging chads keep the winner of the state unclear.

Committee changes: With Democrats retaining control of the Senate, two major but expected moves will reshape leadership on energy and environment panels. The retirement of Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) has opened the door for Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to take the gavel, and Republicans on the Environment and Public Works Committee will have a new leader with Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) term-limited and unable to remain as the committee’s ranking member. Your morning host has more: http://politico.pro/VBG7Pv

Nevada: The race was called for Republican incumbent Dean Heller early this morning, with Heller hanging on to his seat by a margin of just over 1 percentage point. Heller has worked to portray himself as good for renewable energy, a growing business in the Silver State, in addition to oil, gas and coal.

Massachusetts: Pulling out a win was Democrat Elizabeth Warren, who memorably said at a debate that a vote for incumbent Scott Brown was a vote for Inhofe to chair the Environment and Public Works Committee. Warren also never tired of criticizing tax breaks for oil companies, and in her acceptance speech last night she promised again to fight for a “level playing field.” Seung Min Kim has more on Warren’s win: http://politi.co/PVJqQm

Maine: A push by conservatives to sink former Maine Gov. Angus King’s Senate bid by tying him to the federal program that financed the now-bankrupt solar company Solyndra appears to have failed. The National Republican Senatorial Committee spent more than $650,000 on television ads alleging that King used his political connections to secure a $102 million DOE loan guarantee. Andrew Restuccia has more: http://politico.pro/WxORHD

** A message from America’s Natural Gas Alliance: Natural gas is transforming not just our energy choices as a nation, but the opportunities we have to drive job creation and economic growth, advance U.S. energy security and reduce emissions. http://bit.ly/Xu1Kzb **

TWO ENTER, ONE LEAVES: Of the two member-on-member races of interest, Republicans prevailed. Tom Latham beat Leonard Boswell in Iowa while Jim Renacci won over Betty Sutton in Ohio.

A POX ON BOTH THEIR HOUSES: Al Gore criticized both Democrats and Republicans on Current TV last night for being in the pockets of major polluters. “What I regard as by far the biggest issue we’re facing, climate change, global warming, was not even discussed in this campaign, and why not?” he said. “One of the main reasons why not is that the large carbon polluters and their ideological allies have provided funding in both parties.” Watch: http://bit.ly/VSri6y

TWEET OF THE NIGHT: From @spencerpederson, press secretary for House Natural Resources Committee Republicans: “This is gonna be fun.”

THE DEPARTED: Even before voters hit the ballot box, a number of House members already planned to leave the chamber.

Defeated in primary: Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and John Sullivan (R-Okla.) were unexpectedly defeated by primary challengers who portrayed themselves as more conservative than the incumbents. On the Science Committee, Republicans Ben Quayle of Arizona and Sandy Adams of Florida also lost their primaries — thanks to redistricting that pitted them against other sitting lawmakers.

Ted Yoho, Florida: Yoho, a veterinarian with no political experience, is headed to the House. Yoho shocked the political world in August when he beat Stearns, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s investigative panel and the leader of the GOP’s Solyndra investigation, in the Republican primary.

Jim Bridenstine, Oklahoma: Another primary surprise, in June Bridenstine took down Sullivan, the vice chairman of E&C’s Energy and Power Subcommittee. Like Stearns, Sullivan was essentially caught napping by a challenger who presented himself as a more conservative candidate.

MICHIGAN REJECTS RENEWABLE ENERGY BALLOT MEASURE: This renewable energy proposal sank like a stone last night with a decisive double-digit loss: http://politico.pro/SspxvT. But its supporters are ready for the next fight. “Obviously, we’re disappointed with the results. But it’s important to understand that big energy monopolies massively outspent our campaign,” 25x25 campaign spokesman Mark Fisk told ME after the AP made the defeat official. “They’re using fear and misinformation to confuse voters who do support renewable energy.” But when asked whether a new ballot initiative or work with the legislature might be in the near future, he said: "We're going to regroup. … I wouldn't rule anything out."

Texas Railroad Commission: The two Republicans running for seats on the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency, Barry Smitherman and Christi Craddick, sailed through the polls. StateImpact: http://bit.ly/WytCW8

HOW DID LCV FARE? The League of Conservation Voters spent $8 million across eight Senate races, and the group did pretty well. Its preferred candidates prevailed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Maine, New Mexico and Virginia. LCV’s candidate in Arizona, Richard Carmona, lost to Republican Jeff Flake. Unknown as of deadline: Montana.

The group also spent $3 million on the “Flat Earth Five,” five Republicans in the House who had skeptical views on climate change and were already in tight races for reelection. Defeated: Joe Walsh of Illinois, Ann Marie Buerkle of New York and Francisco Canseco of Texas. Unknown as of deadline: Dan Lungren of California and Dan Benishek of Michigan.

LIFE GOES ON: Sure, the most important election of all time just ended, but time slogs on. Here’s what’s going on today:

ITC TO MAKE FINAL VOTE ON SOLAR TARIFFS: In the last step to finalize tariffs on crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar imports from China, the U.S. International Trade Commission will vote today on whether domestic solar manufacturers are, in fact, hurt by China’s trade practices. Last month the ITC held a hearing on the tariffs and the Commerce Department set final tariff levels on the imports. While the ITC could vote that there is no injury — a move that would vacate the tariffs completely — observers point to the commission’s unanimous preliminary ruling on the matter and say reversing four of the six votes is unlikely. The meeting is at 11 a.m. at 500 E St. SW.

COURT HEARS HCFCS CASE: A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit meets today to hear oral arguments in Honeywell v. EPA. This case centers around EPA’s implementation of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, particularly allowances EPA was required to allocate among suppliers to produce hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and whether EPA should have allowed some companies to carry over allowances into a new regulatory “step down” period. By 2020, EPA has to phase out 99.5 percent of HCFCs.

BLM HOLDS NPRA LEASE AUCTION: The Bureau of Land Management hosts an oil and gas lease auction for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska today in Anchorage. Up for leasing are 400 tracts covering 4.5 million acres. The last NPRA lease sale, in December 2011, brought in $3,637,477 for 141,739 acres of land.

GREEN GROUP KICKS OFF BUS TOUR: 350.org will kick off its 21-city “Do the Math” bus tour, which will “connect the dots between extreme weather, climate change and the fossil fuel industry” and is based off of Bill McKibben’s July Rolling Stone article of a similar name (http://bit.ly/LuRoru).

** A message from America's Natural Gas Alliance: We believe in a clean energy future. Natural gas is a cleaner energy choice and a key partner to solar and wind technologies. From California to Florida, natural gas facilities are working with renewable energy to ensure steady, affordable and cleaner energy choices for communities across our nation. Because it is an abundant and affordable energy source available right here in America, natural gas can help make the promise of cleaner energy a reality in more American communities. Natural gas is smarter power today. Visit anga.us to learn more. **

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Send to a friendElection leaves questions on energy issues - Obama's green cred on the line - Too close to call: Waxman, North Dakota and Montana Senate races - Gore decries polluter money in both parties